Sau Hoai's Rice Noodle Factory

Welcome to the artisan workshop of Sau Hoai, a place where tradition and culinary innovation meet in the form of the humble rice noodle. Located along the quiet canals of Can Tho, this factory offers a behind-the-scenes look at…

The journey begins with a carefully measured liquid mixture. The base of these noodles is a blend of 80% rice flour and 20% tapioca starch. …

Once the mixture is ready, it moves to the steaming station. An artisan takes a ladle of the liquid and spreads it thinly over a cloth stretched over a boiling pot of water. …

After steaming, the bamboo mats laden with rice sheets are carried outside to the drying area. Here, they are laid out in the open air, exposed to the intense southern sun. …

The dried sheets are brought back inside to the shredding area. Here, a machine—which looks like a vintage paper shredder—takes the rectangular sheets and quickly cuts them into thin, uniform strands. …

Finally, we reach the kitchen where Sau Hoai's most famous innovation is created: the 'Rice Noodle Pizza'. This dish is made by deep-frying a bundle of rice noodles until it becomes a crispy, circular base. …

Our visit to Sau Hoai's Rice Noodle Factory reveals more than just a recipe; it shows the dedication required to maintain a heritage craft in a rapidly changing world. From the precise 80/20 ratio of the flour to the final crisp…